CORRESPONDENCE.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 15, 1 October 1901, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOR Sir: It has been said by the Government poultry expert that this district compares favorably with any other part of the Colony in its expoi t of eggs. We all know that t ds product is not the least profitable of the fanner's products ; in fact the egg is lecognised as part of the cuireni-y by the storekeepers although like the Indian rupee it fluctuates in value. Seeing that the egg h dustry is of such importance and value to us ar.d that some amongst us are doing all they can in the w T ay of improving the class of ponltry both in size of the birds and of the eggs I think it is a matter for consideration as to whether the present system of gauging the value of eggs by the dozen should not be changed in favor of value by weight, more especially when we see the diminutive productions of some fowls compared with those of a better class, but which as an article of export have exactly the same monetary value although in reality the economist recognises always the value of the larger egg. The idea of buying and selling by weight is not a new one. 1 have read that it obtains in some parts of the United States and now that the Government recognise the value of the poultry business, having appointed an expert to educate those engaged in it, I think that further encouragement should be given trose who have spent time and money in improving their stock by enacting that value be determined by weight. Of course It may be said that it would he difficult and risky in handling eggs by weighing them and increase per centage of breakages, but lam of opinion that with a little ingenuity a suitable quick and practical method of getting ever this difficulty would soon he discovered. The same argument applies also in buying and sidling the birds which are now sold at per ] a'r. irrespectively of their size, age or condition. As to whether the local purchaser (usually the storekeeper ) ci.; s>es the birds when shipping, and gets a better price for some than* others, I do not know, but that the one price, per pair is only 1 ecognised here I do know. No doubt, the storekeeper is a better expert as to the age and quality of fowls, and a greater authority on the quality of some of toe fruit he receives and exports, than either Messrs Hyde or Blacl-more the Government experts,

Y&. To The Editor. Sir: Mr Bate's letter of the 27th purports to be a reply to miue of the 17th, but it is not so, for in giving an answer to my question as to why lie did not move that the Nelson Harbor Board take over Riwaka, and extend the so-called benefits or concessions to Riwaka, as well as Motueka. he says it is a matter which doesn't concern me, and when the proper time arrives he has no doubt they will move in the matter without my interference. He endeavors to make the matter a personal one, and is begging the question. Also that " the Borough Council had no wharf or foreshore to be exploited " I did not say the Council had ; but the residents, the guarantors of the loan, are undoubtedly in all exuity the owners. That the administration of it was not in the hands of the Council has nothing to do with the people's claim. " That the Motueka wharf was to all intents and purposes a county affair, vested in and controlled by the County Council" is all nonsense, and Mr Bate knows it. Why did the member, Mr McKenzie, consult the Borough Council in the matter if this was the case ? Like Riwaka, it would have been a road board wharf had power been given the local board to borrow. The Countv

Council were only, trustees for the road district on this account, and Mr Bate knows all about it. He should leave such flapdoodle as this to his colleague the Major, from whom one expects to hear this sort of mush. * I certainly appreciate the para-graph having reference to the Borough Council's h mesty ; also the astuteness of the chairman of the Riwaka Roard Board in putting things out of their reach ; this spark of humor gives one a relish for the discussion. As to the advice Mr Bate says he gave me. on numerous occasions, to include the wharf when petitioning for the wharf to be created, he will find an answer to that question in a letter published in your issue of the 24th, wherein rensons are given why the application did not include-the wharf. Mr Bate was ,not a member of the County Council at that time, and his advice, if given on the matter then, had not the value which it may have now from this fact; he himself must admit this. There is an old saying, " much would have more, and lost all," which was borne in mind, and acted upon, by those moving for Borough government ; therefore, desiring to have as few issues as possible, the wharf was not included. No one calls into question the administratiou of the wharf by the County Council, either before or during Mr

Bate's membership of that body, but objection is certainly taken to the fact that lie did not take exception to the manner in which the Council(of which he is a member representing all those interested) expressed their willingness to give over the administration to a prospective body, without consulting in any way either himself or his constituents among whom,as regards lepresentation in the matter of the wharf, were the residents of the Borough. That my friend Mr Bate is "a horse that can go" when spurred a little is evident from his remarks in resenting my "interference" as he calls it ; also is it apparent that he is possessed of remarkable forsight when he puts things out of reach. "By this I suppose we are to understand that he admits having been to some extent responsible for what has occurred, and is determined not to be brought to look on a secod count, more especially as it would be decidedly inconvenient to have blame "shuffled up" at his door, with a general election pending. Anyhow, I am pleased to find that he has some fight in him, and that he has

by his (generally speaking) excellent letter,given evidence of his ability to defend himself which will do him no harm with his constituents, many of whom have considered him to be inclined to take things too easy. It would appear that there is a prosdect of the "howlers" getting what they are howling for, that is, if the recommendation of the parliamentary petitions committee are given effect to by the House, and Mr Bate may then admit, also, that a few (in this case many) howlers in a community are not always to be reckoned an inconsequencial quantity, and if any efforts of mine have assisted in bringing about a satisfactory settlement of such vexed question, even though it has. tried the temper and steel of the contending parties, and forced Mr Bute j hinself to take the field, the struggle will not be without good result. I The writer, of whose identity MiBate is apparently satisfied, can assure him that there is no personal feeling in the matter, and that the criticism he has been subjected to has been done on the principle that the public actions of public men are public property, and the fact that he has hit back has raised him immensely in my estimation. More power to him. I am etc., Borough Councillor.

TO THE EDITOR Sir: At the last meeting of" the Borough Council, the Inspector of Nuisances reported that a Councillor was committing a. nuisance by permitting the drainage from his manure heap to find its "way into the ditch alongside his property. 1 hear that Cr Ryder, the man who was cited by'the' officer, received notice of the nu since abutit six o'clock in the evening-and that as the Council met an hour later he had no time to abate the evil. We all know Cr Ryder is a very clean and particularly careful man, and I think had the inspector talked to him. about it before writing to his employers a little unpleasentness wo aid have been avoided. It is astonishing how the inspector has looked after the public health in this case. He must be improving for I know of certain instances where he has not shown such an amount of attention to his duties. The officer, I am sure was not prompted by anyone having a grudge against the offending Councillor. Oh no, he would be above that. I am, etc., Badman.